Preliminary inquiry underway in case of sexual touching, assault

The preliminary inquiry got underway Thursday for a man facing a variety of charges for allegedly holding a girl against her will in a Northeast Avalon community.

A publication ban is in effect to protect the identity of the victim.

The accused — a man in his late 40s — is charged with two counts of sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, sexual interference, sexual exploitation involving a minor, two counts of unlawfully committing sexual exploitation, assault with a weapon and two counts of uttering threats.

He also faces a charge of failure to stop a motor vehicle and several charges related to recognizance and probation breaches.

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers arrested the accused in February after it received a report concerning a girl who was reportedly being held against her will by the accused.

Police located the teenage girl in a vehicle in a wooded area the same day of the accused’s arrest. The accused was reportedly driving that vehicle.

HBG

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Quick question - 03/31/2015

A Corner Brook woman was upset recently when she had her seal skin purse confiscated by customs officials when entering the United States — she was unaware of a U.S. ban on seal product entering that country. Are you aware of the ban?